The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has officially appealed for Ghanaian students and professionals to be exempted from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and its related fees when applying to study or work in the United Kingdom.
The request was made during a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Christian Rogg, at the Ministry on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Discussions at the meeting, aimed at strengthening Ghana–UK relations, also explored opportunities for enhanced collaboration in areas such as security, trade, employment, health, education, governance, and constitutional review.
Mr Ablakwa noted that English has long been the medium of instruction in Ghana’s educational system, rendering the IELTS requirement unnecessary for Ghanaian students and professionals. “We therefore called for Ghana to be exempted from the IELTS and the associated fees, given that English has been the language of instruction in Ghana for decades,” he said.
The engagement forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to elevate its bilateral relations with the United Kingdom to a Strategic Partnership, with particular focus on establishing frameworks to safeguard and improve conditions for Ghanaian health professionals seeking employment abroad.
